Tony wrote:
On Friday, April 5, 2013 2:00:30 PM UTC-5, Bill D wrote:
On Friday, April 5, 2013 11:47:13 AM UTC-6, Steve Leonard wrote: Oh,
Bob. Nothing on a religious level. So far. The OP asked "Manual or
Automatic?" Tony said "I have only towed with an automatic. Best to get
a transmission cooler." And I added "A tachometer is nice so you will
know what is going on because a transmission cooler won't save your
transmission." Nobody was saying bigger is better. The only
reason you would need a big crew vehicle is if you have lots of support
equipment that won't fit in the trailer with the glider. That is why I
have a full size van. The gas mileage sucks, but I deal with it. And, I
just got done removing the extra transmission cooler the previous owner
had added to my van. He use to pull travel trailers and guess what? I
got to have the transmission replaced. Even with his added cooler. The
van also now sports a tachometer. Those who are unaware laugh at this
add on. I agree with you and much prefer a manual transmission.
That way, you KNOW what is happening in that part of the drive system.
Pulled all sorts of things all over with my V-6 Camaro with its 5 speed
manual. In and out of fields, up and down hills, and all around. Never
any brakes on the trailers. And only once was there ever a problem. Not
transmission related. If you really want to make a tranny dance to your
tune, there are aftermarket electronic transmission controllers
available. They allow fully manual control as well as manual control of
torque converter locking. You can have it both ways.

on Old Blue the transmission is original 1994 equipment, just turned over
286,000 miles. I did have it flushed about 4 years ago, other than that I
have done nothing to it, and after reading stories about maintenance
induced failures i'm hesitant to even have it flushed again. I don't have
a tach but don't think the torque converter is slipping. With the low
drag Komet trailer which basically just fills the turbulent airflow
behind the truck, it tows happily at highway speed in overdrive. With the
humongous breadbox Cherokee II trailer forcing it into Drive is required
to prevent constant shifting. So far so good, i'm figuring if I can get
another season or two I should be able to celebrate the symbolic
achievement of getting it to 300,000 miles and then maybe start the
search for a new tow vehicle.

I'd recommend a manual as it is what I have in my protege 5 towing my big
box Ka-6 trailer :-)

It's fun to see the e press ion on people's faces as they pass your slow
ass on the interstate.

If I do get a new car I'd be seriously looking at a Jetta or Golf TDI


Pete